Duct



Oct. 29, 1935.

H. J. 1.. FRANK ET AL DUCT Filed June 3, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS i JMU d, a h w/ ATTORNEY.

MAW BYM L A K N A R F L H 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 3, 1933 INVENTOR Patented ct. 2, 1935 STATES DUCT tion of West Virginia Application June a, 1933, Serial No. 674,183

' 8 Claims. (Cl. 247-3) This invention relates to current distribution systems and more particularly to means for distributing current from one part of a building to another, and it is to be understood'that this case 5 is to be considered along with copending application Serial No. 674,182, filed June 3, 1933.

This application relates to the duct or, fixed structure which includes the casing and the enclosed bus bars from which current is to be taken,

while the said application (No. 4,085) relates to the trolleys or collectors for withdrawing current from the duct disclosed in this application.

As has been described in the Frank et al Patents Nos. 1,819,885, and 1,819,886, of August 18, 1931,

it has'become current practice to provide a duct as the stationary part of a current distribution system, from which current may be taken by means of trolleys, collectors,'or the like.

The present invention relates to an improved 2o duct, it being understood that the term .duct as used herein, is to include a sheet metal casing and the enclosed conductors or bus bars.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a duct which shall be light weight and of small size, and, which has a high degree of economy of manufacture and installation.

A further object is the provision of a duct which can be made in standardized unit sections,-'each section including the casing and the enclosed conductors rigidly secured in place therein, the sections being assembled on thejob, end to end, with a section casing end connected to a second section casing end, and with the ends of bus. bars of one section connected to the ends of bus bars 85 i of a. second section, at the places where the section casing ends are joined. v

It will of course be understood that'the joints hangers, and that hangers may be supplied between section ends, as well as at section ends, all

of this being within the purview of the instant application.

50 The invention also aims to provide novel details of section juncture means and novel details of hanger means.

The invention also aims to provide novel means for securing a part, for example, a. bus bar, to a 55 :second part, for example, a sheet metal casing between hangers if desired, rather than at.

wall, the securing means being in the nature of a screw or the like, having a novel form of insulating button on and around the head thereof.

A further object is to provide" a duct which will be sturdy and rigid; sufllciently to support the- 5 of the character specified which is so designed that reasonable manufacturing variations and tolerances, may be provided, to reduce the cost of manufacture, without impairing the operability or electrical characteristics of the device.

Still further objects of the invention will be presently understood upon reference to the detailed description of a preferred form of duct, the same being shown in the appended drawings.

In these drawings, Fig. 1 shows, in side elevation, two ends of duct sections, joined to each other, at, and provided with a hanger.

Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are sections as if on lines 2-2, 3-4 and i-fl of Figure l diflerent scales being chosen for these figures.

5 is an exploded side elevatlonal view or the two section ends, a hanger plate, and a hanger cover plate, taken from Fig. 1.

Fig.- 6 is an exploded perspective view of the juncture between two ends of bus barlengths, at a section juncture.

Referring tothe drawings, it will be seen that the duct is assembled from a number of duct sections, of different contours and lengths, it so being understood that the ends of;a.d jacent sections are joined to form a continuous duct.

The sections include sheet metal casings ill of substantially rectangular cross section and having their lower, or bottom, walls provided with openings I I which provide external access to the trolley or collector used in conjunction with the duct.

The edges of the bottom wall openings H are turned upwardly, as at E2, to form vertical flanges, bounding the opening II, and rigidifying the parts 13' of the bottom wall, whichparts form rails for the riding wheels of the trolley or collector.

In the multiphase form of Fig. 3, where three j bus bars M are provided, the three bus bars will preferably, though not necessarily, be positioned on the three walls of the casing other than the bottom wall, and will be held in place against these walls of the casing by means of screw bolts l5, which pass through holes in the walls and which are threaded into tapped holes of the bus bars, it being understood that the bus bars and the sheet metal casing are initially provided with these holes, for the reception of these screws, at

--suitable and uniformly spaced intervals. The

bus bars are insulated from the sheet metal casing walls by insulating strips I6, of which there is one for each bus bar, and by means of a channel-shaped sheet of insulation ll, of which there is one for each duct section.

The heads |8 of the screws l are slotted for the reception of a screw-driver and are disposed within fibre cups l9 whichsui'round and insulate the heads l8 of the screws. Within the fibre cups H! are steel washers and fibre washers 2|, and the bottoms of the cups l9, and the washers 2|, insulate the heads from the grounded sheet metal casing I 0. The fibre cups are formed from fiber tubing, swedged over the heads of the screws, to the barrel shape shown.

After the bus bars of any one section have been secured to the sheet metal casing of that section by means of the screws l5 and before the section is shipped from the factory, where it is fabricated, to the place where it is to be assembled with other and similar sections to form a duct, the open ends of the fibre cups l9 are inturned and closed, by being swedged, and are then fllled with an insulating material 22, which may be of the nature of sealing wax, capable of being poured into the cups IS in a molten state and solidifying to embed the heads |8 therein, the whole construction forming effective insulating closures, seals, and rotation-preventing means for the heads I 8 of the screws l5.

Each section has two eri'ds and these ends are duplicate in all respects. An end construction will not be described with particular reference to Fig. 5. v

As shown in this figure, each end of the sheet metal casing I0 is cut away on the top wall, and on the two side walls, to a point about twothirds down from the top of the casing, the line 'as indicated in Fig. 5.

Section ends are joined to eabh other by and at a hanger construction, as shown. Each hanger includes two bent hanger plates, 3}) which embrace the section ends so as to enclose and support the same. These hanger plates have vertical plate parts 3| whose lower edges are laterally bent to form supporting flanges 32 and whose upper edges are laterally and then vertically bent,

as at 33-34, the last mentioned portions being secured to a fixed structure part 35 by a means 38, such as a bolt, passed through the aligned holes 31, of the hanger plates, as shown in Fig. 2. An additional tie betweenthe hanger plates 30 ,is provided by a bolt 88 passed through holes 39 of slots 4|b of the previously mounted section end, which screws, it is observed, are considerably below the bus bars I4, and which screws do not project into the duct passage. Into the socket thus formed is thrust and is similarly fas- 15 tened the end of the section that is to be mounted. After this is done, the adjacent'bus bar ends are secured to one another by means of the bus bar connections of Fig. 61 The two adjacent ends of the bus bars are received within a chan- 20 neLed copper connector 42 whose slots 43 align with tapped holes 44 of the bus bars, and screws I 45 pass through the slots 43 into holes 44, the heads of the screws bearing against washer plates- 46. It will be observed that the connections be- 25 tween the bus bar ends are such that no humps or gaps at the ends are produced, on the inside surfaces of the bus bars, to interfere with smooth rolling of collector wheels along the run. The

connectors 42, as will be seen, dispose themselves 30 on the outside surfaces of the bus bars, in cutouts or openings 48-49 of. the hanger plates. These cutouts also permit the manipulations necessary to secure and connect the bus bar ends.

To 'cover these cutouts or holes, hanger cover 36 plates are provided. These cover plates, of which there are two, one for each hanger plate 30, are referenced 52 and-include upper portions 53 and lower portions 54. The upper portions 53 are in the nature of vertical plates provided with 40 horizontal flanges 55 and vertical flanges 56 at right angles thereto and to the vertical plates '53, and are also provided with large holes 51 for clearing the head or nut of the bolts 38, and

with holes 58 for receiving screw bolts 59whlch 45 pass through the plates 53 and holes 59a in the portions 3| of the hanger plates, these screws assisting in securing the cover plates and the hanger plates 30 to each other.

'Ihelower portions of the cover plates include 5 vertical plates 54 connected to the vertical plates 53 by horizontal portions 60 and provided with flanged edges 6|, the vertical edges 6| being flanged again as at 62. The cover plate parts 54 align with the holes 48 in the adjacent hanger 5.5

plates and cover them, the parts 54 however, being spaced from the hanger plates 30 by the flanged edges GIL-6| of the cover plate to provide air chambers around the live ends of the bus bars. cover plates align with the outer ones of the holes 4ia in the hanger plates and the outer ones of the holes 4|b, of the casing Hi, to clear the bolts 4| passing through the hanger plates and casings. I 6 It is observed that the various connections between parts are effected through the medium of slots, such as those referenced 4| a, 4| b, 43, etc which permit facile assembly of the parts, despite manufacturing variations which occur in the manufacture of the parts, without'interferlng in any way with the creation of closed joints at all points and for all parts.

Further, itis noted that the cover plates 52 completely and effectively enclose the joints and Large slots 63 in the flanges 62 of the of the flanges 56 resting on and engaging the top surfaces of the casings Ill.

It is observed that, by positioning the bus bars as shown, one on the duct top, and two on the sides, compactness is effected without sacrificing the necessary clearance between the bus bars.

It-is further observed the bus bars, which are secured in place by the screws l5, themselves secure the insulation sheets in place in the duct, and that this feature effects economy of manufacture, as well as providing satisfactory smooth riding surfaces inside the duct.

It is observed that the ducts provide self contained current distributing runs and also self contained trolley rails. They may be used to provide nothing more than a trolley rail system, no

current being drawn from the bus bars; they may be used to provide a current distributing system alone, no riding trolley being provided, or they may be used to provide a trolley rail and a current distributing system, and that trolley rails may be inserted into the duct, for trolley use, without there being any danger that trolley parts will come in contact with the bus bars.

We claim:

1. A trolley duct system comprising trolley duct sectionsjoined end to end and having rail sections joined to form smooth continuous rail runs and having bus bar sections separate and independent of the rail sections, walls of the duct sections having openings registering with and providing access to adjacent ends of the bus bar sections so that such ends may be joined from outside the duct to form smooth continuous bus runs, and electrically conducting bus bar coupling means separate from the bus bars and registered with and accessible for manipulation through such openings for joining such ends through the coupling means in a manner to prevent separation of such ends and to avoid interruption of the smooth continuity of those surfaces of the bus bars to be engaged by collector contacts.

2. A trolley duct system comprising trolley openings for joining such ends through the coupling means in a manner to prevent separation of such ends. and to avoid interruption of the smooth continuity of those surfaces of the bus bars to be engaged by collector contacts, and means for closing said openings and for joining and rigidly intersecuring and supporting and aligning adjacent duct section ends,

3. A trolley duct system comprising trolley duct sections joined end to end and having rail sections joined to form smooth continuous rail runs and having bus bar sections separate and independent of the rail sections, walls of the duct sections having openings registering with and providing access to adjacent ends of the bus bar sections so that such ends may be joined from outside the duct to form smoothcontinuous bus runs, and electrically conducting bus bar coupling means separate from the bus bars and registered with and accessible for manipulation through such openings for joining such ends through the coupling means in a manner to prevent separation of such ends and to avoid interruption of the smooth continuity of those surfaces of the bus bars to be engaged by collector contacts, and means for'reinforcing and supporting the rail sections of the duct adjacent said openings.

4. A trolley duct system comprising trolley duct sections joined end to end and having rail sections joined to form smooth continuous rail runs and having bus bar sections separate and independent of the rail sections, walls of the duct sections having openings adjacent duct section junctures registering with and providing access to adjacent ends of the bus bar sections so that such ends may be joined from outside the duct to form smooth continuous bus runs, and electrically conducting bus bar coupling means separate from the bus bars and registered with and accessible for manipulation through such openings for joining such ends through the coupling means in a manner to prevent separation of such ends and to avoid interruption of the smooth continuity of those surfaces of the bus bars to be engaged by collector contacts, and means for closingsaid openings and for joining and rigidly intersecuring and supporting and aligning adjacent duct section ends, and for reinforcing and supporting the rail sections of the duct adjacent the openings.

5. A trolley duct system comprising trolley duct sections joined end to end and having rail sections joined to form smooth continuous rail runs and having bus bar sections separate and independent of the rail sections, walls of the duct sections having openings adjacent duct section junctures registering with and providing access to adjacent ends of the bus bar sections so that such ends may be joined from outside and electrically conduct-ing bus bar coupling means separate from the-bus bars and registered with and accessible for manipulation thrzugh such openings for joining such ends through the coupling means in a manner to prevent separation of such ends and to avoid interruption of the smooth continuity of thosesurfaces of the bus bars to be engaged by collector contacts, and means for closing said openings and for joining and rigidly intersecuring and supporting and aligning adjacent duct section ends, the last mentioned means being provided with openings registering with the duct openings and closed by supplemental movable closures, whereby bus bar joining may be effected through the openings of the means and the duct after duct sections are joined.

6. A trolley duct system comprising trolley duct sections joined end to end and having rail sections joined to -form smooth continuous rail runs and having bus bar sections separate and independent of the rail sections, walls of the duct sections having openings adjacent duct sections junctures registering with and providing access to adjacent ends f the bus bar sections so that such ends may be joined from outside'the duct to form smooth continuous bus runs, and electrically conducting .bus bar coupling means separate from the bus bars and registered with and accessible for manip ulation through such openings for joining such ends through the coupling means in-a manner to prevent separation of such ends and to avoid interruption of the smooth continuity of those surfaces of the bus bars to be engaged by collector contacts, and means comprising complemental portions detachably interconnected for closing said openings and for joining and rigidly intersecuring and supporting and aligning adjacent duct section ends, and for reinforcing and supporting the rail sections of the duct adjacent the openings,

the last mentioned means being adapted to be disassembled to permit one bus duct section to be dropped from a run without disturbing the others.

-7. A trolley duct system comprising trolley duct sections joined end to end and having rail sections joined to form smooth continuous rail runs and having bus bar sections separate and independent'of the rail sections, walls of the duct sections having openings remote from the rail sections registering with and providing access to adjacent ends of the bus bar sections so that such -ends may be joined from outside the duct to form smooth continuous bus runs and electrically conpenings.

ducting bus bar coupling means separate from the 8. A trolley duct system comprising trolley duct sections joined end to end and having rail sections joined to form smooth continuous rail runs and having busbar sections separate and independent of the rail sections, walls of the duct sections having openings registering with and providing access to adjacent ends of the bus bar sections so that such ends may be joinedi'rom I outsidethe duct' to form smooth continuous bus runs, and electrically conducting bus bar coupling means separate from the bus bars and registered with and accessible through such openings 20 for joining such ends through the coupling means in a manner to prevent separation of such ends and to avoid interruption of the smooth continuity of those surfaces of the bus bars to be engaged by collector contacts, and movable closures for said 25 HARRISON L. FRANK. WILLIAM A. HARPER. 

